Creating a more caring community for people and pets.
Creating a more caring community for people and pets.
OUR MISSION
CARE STL exists to create a supportive community rooted in collaboration, compassion, and caring for people and animals.
OUR VISION
CARE STL envisions a world where all animals are nurtured in body, mind, and heart.
We accept the homeless, abused, neglected, injured, and surrendered animals of the City of St. Louis into our care so they will be safe and loved until they can be adopted into loving homes.
Year-To-Date Intake 2024
1,774
3,098
Rescued in 2023
Rescued in 2022
2,885
Rescued in 2021
2,336
Rescued in 2020
1,898
Rescued in 2019
1,656
Who We Are
In response to the City of St. Louis Department of Health's call for proposals to improve the existing animal shelter, CARE STL was established in 2018. The city-run shelter had a distressing euthanasia rate of 55%, prompting Weng Horak to found the organization. After being awarded the contract, CARE STL has been managing the city shelter since March 2019. The mission at CARE STL is to foster a supportive community rooted in collaboration, compassion, and care for both people and animals.
CARE STL is dedicated to serving the residents of St. Louis by providing adoption services, fostering, and more. Our focus is solely on ensuring the safety of the city's residents and animals and protecting the public from potentially dangerous strays. We work alongside the city to enforce Title 10 of the City Code of Ordinances, which pertains to animal care and control. Our ultimate goal is to achieve the highest live release rate in the nation, guided by proper sheltering practices.
We strive to save and rehabilitate community dogs and cats, regardless of their perceived friendliness or socialization with humans. Additionally, we rescue orphaned animals, pregnant animals, and their newborns. We rehabilitate animals suffering from treatable contagious illnesses and offer emergency medical assistance. Our team also focuses on enriching the lives of poorly socialized, shy, or traumatized dogs. Animals surrendered to us are evaluated by our veterinarian and professional behaviorist staff to determine the best course of treatment. We work with animals considered to have "behavior problems" or "medical problems" and even evaluate those signed over for euthanasia. Our care is not based on arbitrary color, age, or breed criteria.
At CARE STL, we are committed to promoting progressive programs and advocating for animal welfare within the city. We aim to educate the public about responsible pet ownership and recommend reforms in animal control policies. Our purpose is to rescue, rehabilitate, and find suitable homes for unwanted pets in St. Louis. We also manage an animal shelter for St. Louis City Animal Care and Control, prioritize the animals' welfare, reunite lost pets with their owners, and address issues related to irresponsible pet owners and dangerous animals to enhance public safety. Our focus is on saving the animals of St. Louis City.
To achieve our goals, we rely on the support and collaboration of the St. Louis community. We aim to strengthen our partnerships with other rescue organizations, foster care families, and volunteers. Our staff, volunteers, and generous donors are crucial in providing care and support to the animals in need. The key to success lies in working closely with the city's residents to implement life-saving programs and treat every life as precious. CARE STL has transformed the city shelter into an exceptional and remarkable facility.
We understand that achieving the highest live release rate is challenging, but our leadership and dedicated staff excel in thinking outside the box. It will require the collective effort of all city residents and business community partners to support and assist us in reaching this goal. We firmly believe that it is possible.
Our CARE STL Family
Our Business Partners
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